Turk Talk™: Run Package Mechanics

Nice work Turk. I think these are Awesome. I wonder what the defensive schemes look like to defend these. I wonder what are their strategies against folks like Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson back in his San Diego days.

I was sort of hoping you'd diagram my and Kaba's favorite play where the running back charges into the center's behind and falls down. It was a staple of the 49er and Raven offenses this year.

Running out of a three wide set always appeals to me because the defense is spread out. Does the opposite hold true? It seems like throwing out of a heavy 2 TE formation could catch the defense bunched up.

Next Turk Talk you need to have a bottle of Peach Schnapps prominently displayed just to mess with Cris.

Running out of a three wide set always appeals to me because the defense is spread out. Does the opposite hold true? It seems like throwing out of a heavy 2 TE formation could catch the defense bunched up.

Does success here rely upon having two good receiving tight ends, or do you need just one?

Yes. Yes. YES! YES! For some reason the Meg Ryan scene in When harry met sally comes to mind.... Ha. Seriously, love the football turk talk.

I think one of the things about football that doesn't get talked about often is that as you grow older you wish you could go back and play with the greater and greater understanding you gain of the game as time goes by.

I often think about something that I heard from Bill Parcells. Good coaches get players to just play.

I think that this kind of thing gives people a HUGE insight into how much detail and preparation needs to go into getting players to "just play" and have success.

All other things equal in an offensive package like this vs. a defense like that - if you can put a TE strong side on who can handle a DE one on one in run blocking, you can create some serious havoc for a defense by simply running stong side power at them until they have to do somethign different to stop it, and then you can start to pick them apart piece by piece with either a different run package or simply passing over the top to wherever the open space is going to be. Run first to pass, or pass first to run? That is the question.

If you can make that TE that block a DE one on one also have hands and run routes and catch? Oh boy, you've got a weapon.

The ultimate chess match. I've become convinced lately with the way defenses are going these days, that the TE position and having a good diversity there is key to running a successful offense. For now.

I'd also like to see some of this stuff drawn up against some other front 7 looks. 3 man lines, stuff like that.

awesome, awesome awesome stuff.

For years, I've wanted some kind of computer animation tool or model, or something interactive where you can draw up plays and watch things happen and stuff like that and tinker with formations and movements.

This is awesome Turk. I am a little confused though. You mean the QB doesn't just called play number 36?

It depends on the team, the players, the coaches, the skill level, the ability, etc.

A lot of times, when things aren't working, the playbook will get super simplified and you'll get exactly that. A simple play call that you run.

But if you've got an 11 man unit on the field that knows their playbook and plays and schemes inside out and communicates well, that QB can have the freedom to really become a field commander out there.

The only way to play good defense against a team like that (i.e. Colts) is to somehow figure out a way to make the QB see things that aren't there, or knock the QB out of the game. The Colts run the ball just enough, just barely enough to give that QB enough ability to move the chess pieces around the board.

The saints defensive game plan against the colts was masterful in doing that in that super bowl. They figured out a way somehow to make Peyton's biggest strength, his ability to read defenses and find the best option, a weakness, by getting him to make decisions and throw the ball places it shouldn't go - watch the last interception.

The saints still needed the ballsiest call in big game history to keep possession of the ball away from the colts offense long enough to make that QB start reaching for things.